Three Tips to Ease the Anxiety of Moving
Congratulations!
You’re moving, and along with all the excitement that comes with this new chapter in your life is the reality that you and your family’s lives are about to change. As a kid, I survived two moves to completely different regions of the country. While no family’s moving experience is the same, hopefully the tips I give you can ease some of the anxiety that comes with every new environment.
- Explore your new digs. Common sense, right? At this very moment you’re probably thinking,”Of course I’m going to try everything in my new city, why wouldn’t I?” Well, between the new job and house, life can get pretty hectic. You’ll put off immersing yourself into your new location. Getting the feel for your new town is almost as important as getting your new house to look perfect. Go out and discover the landmarks, parks, hiking trails, restaurants, really anything that is local and unique can help you settle and make your new place feel like home.
- For those of you with kids, get them involved in something immediately. Any activity where they can meet kids with similar interests outside of a classroom will lead to friendships. Giving your kids a solid social foundation after a move is very important and will instill in them a sense of comfort. Also, by all means do not set up a playdate for your kid if they are over 10 years old, friendships in new places have to happen organically. As long as you make sure that your kids maintain the same routine as they did in your old town, they will feel more comfortable over time.
- Introduce yourself to everyone and remember their name and their story. Making an effort to meet the people in your community can make you into a local in no time. Ask them their story and how they got there to find out the ins and outs of the town, not in a gossipy judgmental way, but in a way that you can really get a feel for the people there. This is especially important when it comes to meeting neighbors. Don’t be that mysterious, antisocial person who just moved into the house down the street. Engaging with your neighbors is the first step to settling in a new place.
As with anything, it takes time to adjust and feel comfortable in a new environment. The more you immerse yourself and plug into your new community, the quicker it becomes a place you now call home.
Written by Colin Richardson. Survived and thrived after two cross country moves.
